“I used to be scared of retiring": Ex-Derby County captain Conor Hourihane ready to step into coaching career

Derby County’s captain for the past season, Conor Hourihane, was released by the Rams last week and is now preparing to move towards a career in management.

The midfielder has previously made it clear that his aim has always to go into coaching and it now seems that could be a reality.

With interest from his former club Barnsley, Hourihane could be looking at moving into a player/coach role, which would most likley develop into a management role.

Speaking to the Athletic, the Irishman said: “I used to be scared of retiring, I’m not anymore now; I’ve got a huge passion towards the other side of the game.

“My agent has been setting up meetings with coaches and also sporting directors. I ask them, ‘Why do you appoint certain managers? What characteristics do you want to see?’. I want to know how that process works.

“I’m picking people’s brains, being a sponge and moulding myself as a coach.”

Hourihane has had much success in his career, earning promotions with Derby County, Barnsley and most notably Aston Villa when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2019.

He says that he has had the pleasure of working with some of the best managers and wants to learn from them.

Recently, he has been helping at Aston Villa’s academy and says he has already learnt so much from Villa boss Unai Emery, he said: “Being around the club with Unai, you have to take everything in.

“I’ve seen players I shared a dressing room with going to the next level. That’s a testament to the manager and the detail he goes to improving every player.”

Hourihane has already completed his A and B coaching license and now looks ready to take the next step in his career.

He did also reflect on how his time at Pride Park came to a perfect ending.

“This one has hit home because I’m getting older, so you cherish promotions that little bit more,” he said. “There’s been a lot of dark days, but the club has steadily rebuilt and is in a completely different place to when I signed two years ago.”

The former Rams captain will now move into coaching whether that is at Barnsley, Villa or elsewhere.